Demonstrating device.



H. D. CLARK.

DEMONSTRATING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912.

Patented Oqt COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH CO.,WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED sTATEs'rATENT orricn HUGH D. CLARK, or COLUMBUS, onro.

DEMONSTRATING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH D. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Demonstrating Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to demonstrating devices and resides in the provision of a device calculated to symbolically indicate to an observer that a hood-like structure such as a metal burial vault may be immersed in water without moistening an article supported therein. This is caused mainly for the reason that there is formed an air cushion within the burial vault, which is effective to preclude the rising of the water therein beyond a certain depth.

One of the common difficulties in metallic burial vaults which are adapted to be lowered into a grave and located therein in a position accessible to the moisture in the surrounding earth, resides in the fact that the water will in time seep through into the burial vault and act upon the casket in a manner to eventually desecrate the same.

This invention is preferably applicable to the illustration of a burial vault wherein the casket is disposed at a certain height and at such a height that any water entering the burial vault, will fail to reach the casket, due to the air cushion mentioned. This symbolical medium of presenting this fact to the public, may vary as to form, but I desirably utilize an open. bottom burial vault structure having a casket therein, together with means for reciprocating such open bottom vault structure within a tank filled or partially filled with fluid.

The preferred embodiment of my inven-' tion is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of refer ence designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved apparatus, Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the burial vault structure removed, and, Fig. 4 is a detail view of a preferred driving mechanism utilized by me.

In the drawings, there is shown a tank 1 preferably provided at one side thereof with a drainage cock 2 and carrying upon either end a dovetail vertical piece disposed desirably upon the inner walls thereof as at 3 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 24, 1912. Serial No. 705,493.

Patented 0a. 14., 1913.

and at. Slidably mounted upon these clovetail pieces which are considerably higher than the depth of the tank, are slidable racks 5 and 6 controlled in their sliding movement by gears 7 mounted upon stub shafts, carrying at their opposite ends gears 8 which in turn mesh with pinions 9 carried upon stub shafts 10. These stub shafts l0 likewise carry gears 11 and these gears 11 are driven by pinions 12 disposed respectively upon either end of a driving shaft 13 squared at one end for the reception of a crank 14:. It will be understood that this gearing may be varied as to form to vary the speed of transmission, but its ultimate purpose is to reciprocate the slides 5 and 6. The position of the slide may be maintained by a pawl 15 operating in conjunction with one of the gears 11. These slides 5 and 6 are desirably provided at their lower ends with brackets 16, serving as supports for a rectangular shelf member 17 desirably angular in cross section and provided with hinge leaves 18 upon one side thereof. The opposite side of the shelf 17 is desirably provided with pivoted locking members 19 and 20 and at intervals the shelf is provided with transverse U-shaped members 21 which extend upwardly above the said shelf, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

In the effectual operation of my invention, I desirably utilize a burial vault top 22 which is provided with complemental leaves or hinges 23 which may be connected to the leaves 18, so as to hingedly mount the burial vault top upon the shelf. This burial vault top being hinged at one side of the shelf, normally rests upon the shelf throughout its entire area and is locked thereon at its opposite side by the lock members 19 and 20 which may be pivotally swung out of operative position and then returned to operative position to maintain the burial vault against movement. When it is desired to display the interior of the vault, the locking members 19 and 20 may be released and the burial vault top swung upon the hinges. In the structure shown, this swinging upon the hinges is only feasible when the slides 5 and 6 are at their uppermost position and at this time the burial vault top 22 may be caused to open and to be supported by bracket members 24:. For purposes of rigidity, the shelf member is preferably connected to the slides 5 and 6 by braces 25 and 26.

In operation of my invention, I desirably place a casket designated at A by dotted lines, upon the bracket supporting. members 21 and secure the burial vault top in position thereover. In this posit-ion, the casket is well within the burial vault top and the bot-. tom of such burial vault is open. The driving mechanism is then operated to cause the slides 5 and 6 to move downwardly upon the dovetail members into the tank which has been previously filled or partially filled with fluid. Actual results demonstrate that regardless of the depth to which the burial vault is carried downwardly with the slides, the waterwithin the tank will not rise sufficiently to reach the casket. This is due to the air cushion formed within the burial vault in a manner which will be well understood. At the end of the desired downward movement of the burial vault, the operation may be reversed and the structure returned to the position shown in Fig. 1. The locking members 19 and 20 may then be released and the burial vault top swung backwardly upon its hinges disclosing the fact that the casket is shelf contained therein, a hood-like burial .vault top hingedly mounted on said shelf, means for locking said top against swinging dry and indicating that the upper interior of the burial vault top is untouched with fluid. Thus, the idea is conveyed to the observer that the burial vault structure is such that it is impossible for fluid to reach the casket contained within such burial vault.

W hat I claim, is:

1. A demonstrating device comprising a tank for fluid, a hood-like member adapted for disposition in said tank, means for reciprocating said member in said tank, and means for supporting an article above the level of the lower edge of'said member.

2. A demonstrating device comprising a tank for fluid, a hood-like member mounted to reciprocate within said tank, means for reciprocating said member and means for supporting an article above the level of the lower edge of said member.

3. A demonstrating device comprising a tank for fluid, a hood-like member resembling a burial vault mounted to reciprocate within said tank, means for reciprocating said member and brackets for supporting a casket above the level of the lower edge of lower edge of said member.

l v i 5. A demonstrating device comprising a tank for fluid, a supporting shelf, a hoodlikemembercarried by said shelf, means for locking said member on said shelf, means for reciprocating said shelf and means for supporting an article above the level of the lower edge of said member.

6. A demonstrating device comprising a tank for fluid, a hoodlike member hingedly mounted and mounted to reciprocate in said tank, means for reciprocating said member, and means for supporting an article above the level of the lower edge of said member.

A demonstrating device comprising a tank for fluid, a reciprocable rectangular upon its hinges, and brackets for supporting a casket above the level of the lower edge of 1 said top.

8. A demonstrating device comprising a tank for fluld, a reciprocable rectangular shelf contained therein, a hood-like burial vault top hingedly mounted on said shelf,

means for locking said top against swinging upon its hinges, brackets for supporting a casket above the level of the lower edge of said top, and bracket arms on said tank to support said top after the same has been gswung upon its hinges.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 1n presence of'two witnesses.

HUGH D. CLARK.

Witnesses G. C. SHEPHERD, WALTER E. L. Boon.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by add s ing th n commissioner of Patents, Washington, D, G. 

